Off topic---osteoperosis

I'm 55, was diagnosed with osteoperosis about 4 years ago. Took Evista for 2 years and had continued bone loss at next scan, for 2 years have taken vitamin c and calcium....scan shows more bone loss. Dr. wants me to take prolia shot every 6 months, but I'm really nervous about taking any meds..

I've taken protonix for acid reflux for several years (have barretts esophagus so feel I need to continue to take this) and wonder if that could have affected my calcium loss? I'm sure menopause didn't help!!

Just wondering if anyone has taken prolia (which is fairly new). I just ordered an exercise DVD made especially for women with osteoperosis....but I'm at a loss as to what to do next.

Could loss of colon add to my issues???

thanks,
Janie

     I'm 64 and was diagnosed with osteoporosis at least six years ago.  I took Evista too with no change.  The doctor placed me on Fosamax but I only took it a short while as it gave me heartburn.  At the time, I was suffering with UP and I certainly didn't want ulcers in my esophagus, same with Actonel.  My last bone scan, a few months ago, read -3.7 which is a bit worse than two years ago when it read -3.5.  My doctor has been hounding me to go on SOMETHING!  She sent me to a bone specialist and he suggested Reclast, the once a year infusion.  I did some research into it and talked to a few women who are on it  and found mixed reviews.  I decided to just stick with my calcium with D regimen.

     I might add that I already have suffered three fractures in my spine.  The first one was back in 04 when I took a bad fall right on my tush.  I believe anyone who took a flop like that would suffer a fracture, even if they didn't have osteoporosis.  My back bothers me if I am on my feet for a long period of time, so, my family doctor sent me for an MRI of the thoracic spine and that is when they discovered the other two fractures.  She said I could sneeze and suffer a fracture, but I still don't trust those meds.

     I know it was the prednisone which caused the osteoporosis and I was dependent upon it for two years prior to surgery.

Janie,

Sue is right. Get vit D checked and if it is low get onto Nature Made Vit D 2000 IU per day. Also get your vit K1 and K2 checked. K2 comes in an easy dissolve capsule called Dr's Best. The Bluebonnet Vit K2 can be crushed. I forget if you have ileostomy or just minus colon (I think just minus colon and you do the Miralax) BUT it is the colon that produces Vit K and we need it for our bones. My colon is not being used and you are without yours. Likely you don't do a ton of green veggies like I can't due to ileo stoma so we gotta get Vit K for our bones somewhere. This Vit K is a well kept bone secret. Also need zinc and selenium and some magnesium and 3 helpings of calcium per day. Magnesium glyconate does not give diarrhea so that is good. Those bone meds, to my knowledge and the research I have done, actually stops our natural bone regeneration mechanism but supposedly densens the bone we have. So if we stay on those we end up with old dense bones that are more apt to break than newly regenerated less dense bones. Like an old thick piece of wood v.s. a greenish twig..... That being less likely to break if we fall. ALSO the estrogen patch is a life saver for bones. This is what I have found anyway. Upon the advice of my endocrinologist I have stopped getting these dexa scans. He said once you get labelled as crossing the line from osteopenia to osteoporosis then if you apply for long term health coverage, you can be denied or rates can be sky high. he is really into the natural approach. BUT with anything, who knows???? Good luck, Rosemary